Long-term assessment of wild boar harvesting and cattle removal for bovine tuberculosis control in free ranging populations

Wild boar is a recognized reservoir of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in the Mediterranean ecosystems, but information is scarce outside of hotspots in southern Spain. We describe the first high-prevalence focus of TB in a non-managed wild boar population in northern Spain and the result of eight years of TB management. Measures implemented for disease control included the control of the local wild boar population through culling and stamping out of a sympatric infected cattle herd. Post-mortem inspection for detection of tuberculosis-like lesions as well as cultures from selected head and cervical lymph nodes was done in 745 wild boar, 355 Iberian ibexes and five cattle between 2004 and 2012. The seasonal prevalence of TB reached 70% amongst adult wild boar and ten different spoligotypes and 13 MIRU-VNTR profiles were detected, although more than half of the isolates were included in the same clonal complex. Only 11% of infected boars had generalized lesions. None of the ibexes were affected, supporting their irrelevance in the epidemiology of TB. An infected cattle herd grazed the zone where 168 of the 197 infected boars were harvested. Cattle removal and wild boar culling together contributed to a decrease in TB prevalence. The need for holistic, sustained over time, intensive and adapted TB control strategies taking into account the multi-host nature of the disease is highlighted. The potential risk for tuberculosis emergence in wildlife scenarios where the risk is assumed to be low should be addressed.

Effect of cattle on Salmonella carriage, diversity and antimicrobial resistance in free-ranging wild boar (Sus scrofa) in northeastern Spain

Salmonella is distributed worldwide and is a pathogen of economic and public health importance. As a multi-host pathogen with a long environmental persistence, it is a suitable model for the study of wildlife-livestock interactions. In this work, we aim to explore the spill-over of Salmonella between free-ranging wild boar and livestock in a protected natural area in NE Spain and the presence of antimicrobial resistance. Salmonella prevalence, serotypes and diversity were compared between wild boars, sympatric cattle and wild boars from cattle-free areas. The effect of age, sex, cattle presence and cattle herd size on Salmonella probability of infection in wild boars was explored by means of Generalized Linear Models and a model selection based on the Akaike's Information Criterion. Prevalence was higher in wild boars co-habiting with cattle (35.67%, CI 95% 28.19-43.70) than in wild boar from cattle-free areas (17.54%, CI 95% 8.74-29.91). Probability of a wild boar being a Salmonella carrier increased with cattle herd size but decreased with the host age. Serotypes Meleagridis, Anatum and Othmarschen were isolated concurrently from cattle and sympatric wild boars. Apart from serotypes shared with cattle, wild boars appear to have their own serotypes, which are also found in wild boars from cattle-free areas (Enteritidis, Mikawasima, 4:b:- and 35:r:z35). Serotype richness (diversity) was higher in wild boars co-habiting with cattle, but evenness was not altered by the introduction of serotypes from cattle. The finding of a S. Mbandaka strain resistant to sulfamethoxazole, streptomycin and chloramphenicol and a S. Enteritidis strain resistant to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid in wild boars is cause for public health concern.

La función pedagógica del profesor de piano en grado superior ante el miedo escénico de los alumnos

Mi labor como pianista y docente en dos países, tanto en España como en Argentina, me ha motivado para la realización de esta tesis. He sentido preocupación al observar los nervios e inseguridades sufridos por los alumnos cuando llega el momento de los conciertos, exámenes o concursos; y debido a ello, he notado que la calidad de la ejecución y la experiencia de la situación del concierto, examen o concurso se ven perjudicadas. Este trabajo no pretende ser un estudio psicológico ni una herramienta terapéutica, sino simplemente un aporte pedagógico, tanto para el alumno en su futuro como músico profesional como para la labor didáctica de los profesores de piano de grado superior. El nerviosismo es un tema clave recurrente en las conversaciones entre compañeros antes de salir al escenario e incluso es también un tema de justificación para los ejecutantes de todo lo que hubiera podido suceder, tanto positiva como negativamente, si no los hubiese sufrido en el transcurso de la interpretación. Es muy poca o casi nula la atención que pedagógicamente se dedica a los estudiantes de música sobre la experiencia escénica en el aprendizaje instrumental. Además, es curioso constatar cómo los centros de enseñanzas musicales preparan a los alumnos para ser instrumentistas pero no les brindan el 100% de las herramientas que necesitan para serlo. Se otorga una preparación basada en la técnica del instrumento, la estética, la comprensión analítica, armónica y morfológica de las obras, la historia de las distintas épocas y compositores, entre otras, todo ello a través de asignaturas obligatorias. Pero estas materias raramente son aplicadas a la hora de hacer una interpretación instrumental. Los alumnos, incluso algunos profesores de instrumento, no establecen una interrelación entre las diferentes asignaturas.Todo eso llevaría a una preparación musical bastante completa si no nos detenemos a observar que falta una preparación mental. Esta carencia se hace presente en el momento de salir a escena o en la presentación ante un tribunal al observar errores, bloqueos, dificultad de concentración y la posterior autocrítica...